OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - Aliso Viejo, Calif. (February 18, 2009) – The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA), founded in 1989, is proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary. As the trade association of competing surf product suppliers working together for the development of the surf industry, SIMA has united the surf industry for the past 20 years.
“Many years ago, SIMA began out of a need to work more effectively with our tradeshow partners,” said Bob McKnight, CEO of Quiksilver and SIMA’s first president. “We started in this industry because of our passion for surfing and the beach lifestyle. SIMA has done a tremendous job in sharing the real message of surf culture and helping us all ‘grow the pond.’”
From issues like the closure of Clark Foam to trade show dates, SIMA has proven its effectiveness in unifying and serving the surf business by gathering the leaders of our industry and acting as their collective voice.
“SIMA has been the glue that has kept our industry together for many years,” said Richard Woolcott, CEO & founder of Volcom. “SIMA has also helped create a special camaraderie between competitors that makes this industry so much fun to be a part of.”
Since its inception, SIMA has also been committed to the advancement of the core surf industry by providing valuable educational programming, industry research and public relations efforts. Education remains a focus as the surf industry heads to Cabo in May for the 12th annual SIMA Surf Summit educational conference. 2009 also marks the second year of the local seminar series, SIMA Boot Camp, as well as the release of SIMA’s third Retail Distribution Study.
“SIMA’s actions over the past 20 years have been instrumental in elevating our industry and uniting it,” said John Wilson, president of Reef. “Through its proprietary educational programs, SIMA has been able to harness the collective wisdom of the industry in order to make it better.”
SIMA also serves as an avenue for the surf industry to collectively support charitable organizations that work to keep our oceans clean and serve our communities through surfing. SIMA owns and operates two separate charitable organizations: the SIMA Environmental Fund, established in 1989, and the SIMA Humanitarian Fund, founded in 2006. This year will also mark the 20th anniversary the SIMA Environmental Fund’s Waterman’s Weekend, as well as bring the SIMA Humanitarian Fund’s 6th annual Liquid Nation Ball.
“SIMA connects with the essence of what it means to be a surfer by honoring individuals and companies that make a difference,” said Jonno Wells, CEO of Surfline.com and SIMA advisory board member. “SIMA inspires us to give back to the sport, the ocean, and humanitarian causes that help us appreciate how lucky we are to live the dream.”
Marking further growth, in 2003, SIMA established the surf industry’s only awards program that gives SIMA members and surf specialty retailers the opportunity to recognize fellow surf industry companies for their outstanding contributions to the surf industry. The SIMA Image Awards aim to identify the surf industry’s most influential companies and recognize them for their efforts to advance and grow the industry over the past year.
“Insight has benefited greatly from SIMA’s presence and industry services, and very much so from the Image Awards we have been fortunate to receive in the past couple years,” said Jesse Faen, president of Insight. “These have really elevated the awareness of our brand within the U.S. and beyond, and have encouraged more retailers to give us a chance to shine. Times are tough out there, but the shared knowledge and experience SIMA and its board have to offer really do offer support and a sense of community.”
Transworld Business teamed up with SIMA to conduct a survey at the Sacred Craft consumer surfboard expo held in Del Mar, California a few weeks ago. Here’s a portion of the results.
» Read Full Story
If there’s one thing I’ve learned while covering the business side of boardsports it’s that when Dick Baker speaks, you listen. Baker is a veteran of the apparel business. His career spans from Esprit, Lacoste, and Tommy Hilfiger to Op. His opinions are highly respected both in and outside the boardsports industry, just as he is. I had the opportunity to ask Baker a few questions this morning about the current economic climate and how it’s affecting the endemic market. Here’s what he had to say.
» Read Full Story 
For the fifth year, Reef Co-Founder Fernando Aguerre hosted Liquid Nation Ball at his ocean-front home in La Jolla, California to raise money for SIMA’s Humanitarian Fund. The fund is used to help support fourteen charity organizations around the world. In addition to the annual auction—where Aguerre has made it a tradition to auction off his own pants as a grand finalé—Dr. Dave Jenkins, founder of Surf Aid International, was recognized as the first ever Humanitarian Of The Year for his efforts to help battle Malaria in Indonesia.
This year SIMA estimates it raised $230,000 at the event!
Here are some photos from the event.
» Read Full Story 
Here’s a look at some of the images from SIMA’s 19th Annual Waterman’s Weekend. This year SIMA raised more than $500,000 for seventeen non-profit environmental organizations that address water quality and ocean pollution issues, defend beaches and surf breaks from development, and provide public education on ocean conservation. Check out the photos below courtesy of Jimmy Romero & Ty Smith/Propaganda HQ.
Here’s the press release from SIMA:
More than 850 professional surfers and surf industry VIP’s supported the most anticipated surf event of the year, the SIMA Environmental Fund’s Waterman’s Ball, on Friday, August 22. The event took place at the St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point, Calif., and the SIMA Environmental Fund Board of Directors are confident that the final amount raised at the event will approximately match the goal of $500,000 for oceans and surf breaks around the world. At the Ball, SIMA honored former world surfing champion Mark “Occy” Occhilupo as Waterman of the Year, musician Jackson Browne as Environmentalist of the Year, and surf contest pioneer Eduardo Arena with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Surfrider Foundation and Sierra Club’s Friends of the Foothills campaign also received Special Recognition Awards for their ongoing battle to save Trestles and stop the development of the 241 Toll Road.
Funds raised will go directly to supporting specific programs of 17 non-profit environmental organizations that address water quality and ocean pollution issues, defend beaches and surf breaks from development, and provide public education on ocean conservation. Beneficiaries include: Surfrider Foundation, Ocean Institute, WiLDCOAST, Heal the Bay, Orange County CoastKeeper, Surfing Education Association, Alaska Wilderness League, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Algalita Marine Research Foundation, Save the Waves Coalition, Reef Check, KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance, SINADES: Natural Systems and Development Civil Association, Sierra Club’s Friends of the Foothills campaign, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, North Shore Community Land Trust, and Assateague Coastal Trust.
“Jackson Browne said it perfectly in his acceptance speech for Environmentalist of the Year and gave me a new favorite saying; ‘A clean environment is the most basic human right,’” said Paul Naudé, president of the SIMA Environmental Fund and CEO of Billabong USA. “Waterman’s Weekend is a meaningful and powerful event for the whole surf industry because it is a time when we can support the organizations that are preserving the very resource our industry would not survive without – the ocean. As well as concentrating on our oceanic-environment, Waterman’s Weekend is a time to recognize our honorees who have made an impact in the sport of surfing and the environment.”
Mark “Occy” Occhilupo, Waterman of the Year
Waterman of the Year, Mark “Occy” Occhilupo, has made his mark on the sport of surfing as a legendary surf icon. Coming onto the surf scene at the age of nine, Occy found his passion for the perfect wave on the beaches of Cronulla near where he grew up in southern Sydney. The
goofyfooter exploded onto the surf contest scene at age16 and began his career that would later lead to his recognition as the man with the best backhand hook. One of the most remarkable parts of Occy’s career was his ability to surge from the depths of depression and burnout throughout the early nineties to the rebirth of his surfing career in 1996 after re-qualifying through the World Qualifying Series for the prestigious World Championship Tour. He hit the peak of his career in 1999 when he won and was crowned with the long overdue World Title. After two decades of leading the scene as a top world surfer, Occy surfed his last touring professional heat in 2007, rounding out a truly epic career that has stretched the boundaries of the sport of surfing.
Jackson Browne, Environmentalist of the Year
Best described as the first to volunteer for an environmental cause and the last to seek recognition, Jackson Browne was honored as Environmentalist of the Year for his lifelong commitment to the fragile planet. Well-known for his gift as a musical artist, Jackson utilizes his talent to raise awareness, participation, and funds for environmental causes. He strives to make the biggest impact and tailors a majority of his efforts to grass-roots environmental causes with minimal overhead, targeting the “little guy” that does the important work. His long list of performance benefits, as well as dedication of time and resources, includes benefits for the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy, Waterkeeper Alliance, Heal The Bay – Santa Monica, and to prevent offshore drilling on the California Coast, oil and gas development in the Santa Barbara region, and opposition of nuclear development at Diablo Canyon, to name a few. An avid surfer, Jackson has made his absolute and unflinching commitment to the environment, particularly the oceans, a lifelong project.
“The qualifications for SIMA Environmentalist of the Year are extremely precise and tailored to environmental efforts as they impact the surf industry,” said Paul Naudé, president of the SIMA Environmental Fund and CEO of Billabong USA. “As a true surfer, Jackson Browne more than fulfills this prestigious role and is passionate about using his music to protect our waves. From projects like Heal The Bay to preventing offshore drilling – Jackson has made a huge impact on our coastal lines, something I know everyone in the surf industry is more than appreciative of. We are proud to call Jackson Browne our SIMA Environmentalist of the Year.”
Eduardo Arena, Lifetime Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Eduardo Arena, is acknowledged as being a World Surfing Championships contest pioneer. Eduardo is well-known for using his own resources and passion for surfing to bring together various countries and theories of surfing. In the 1960s Eduardo’s efforts in Peru helped create the platform for the first World Surfing Championships, as well as the International Surfing Federation (ISF). Serving as the president of ISF for eight years, Eduardo was among the pioneering group of ISF officials who wrote our first modern surf judging criteria, clearly influencing and setting the tone of the way surf contests all over the world are judged today. Eduardo’s impact over the surf world is both international and extensive, and SIMA is proud to honor Eduardo Arena with the SIMA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Surfrider & Friends of the Foothills, Special Recognition Awards
Surfrider and Friends of the Foothills were honored with Special Recognition Awards. Advocating against the development of the 241 Toll Road in southern Orange County and protecting Trestles has been an ongoing battle for these two organizations. They have won some courageous victories, and will continue the long-term fight to preserve our surf and environment – including the battle to stop the Toll Road extension through Trestles. Their efforts are strongly supported and valued by the entire surf community.
“Every dollar spent on the weekend, every golfer on the links, every bid on the auctions, and every attendee at the ball made a difference for our surf breaks, ocean, and the environment,” said Dick Baker, SIMA Chairman Emeritus. “On behalf of SIMA, thank you to all of those who supported the 19th Annual Waterman’s Weekend.”
The SIMA Environmental Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation formed by the surf industry to provide support in the form of grants to environmental organizations. The annual Waterman’s Weekend serves as the primary fundraiser for the SIMA Environmental Fund through the Waterman’s Classic Golf Tournament and Waterman’s Ball and Auction. This year’s Waterman’s Classic took place on Thursday, August 21, at the Monarch Beach Golf Links. The Waterman’s Ball and Auction were held Friday, August 22, at The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point, Calif.
For media inquires or photos from the event please contact SIMA Communications Coordinator, Mandy Johnson at Mandy@sima.com or 949.366.1164 x7.
The two-day event, comprised of the Waterman’s Classic Golf Tournament and Waterman’s Ball, will take place Aug. 21-22, at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point, Calif.
» Read Full Story 
Check out what’s going on with SIMA for the month of April. For more information, visit SIMA’s official Web site, HERE.
Quiksilver CEO Bob McKnight and Paul Naude, Billabong USA CEO and SIMA vice president, were joined by several other industry insiders Thursday, Feb. 28, to speak on the direction of the action sports market and advise retailers and wholesalers what to anticipate in the next few years.
» Read Full Story Visit our sister websites
»
Surf
Skateboarding
Snowboarding
Motocross
RIDEbmx
Quad
Business
